MSM Composer Wins Booker Scholarship
The BMI Foundation has announced that Manhattan School of Music composer Rin Seo has been awarded the Chuckii Booker Scholarship, a $5,000 prize for young jazz artists.
The Chuckii Booker Scholarship was established in 2010 and is awarded biennially to a young composer studying at a U.S. music school and recognizes outstanding achievement in jazz composition. The award salutes BMI composer and producer Chuckii Booker who recorded for artists such as Troop, Barry White, Janet Jackson, and Vanessa Williams.
"I came to the United States in 2015 with a strong desire to discover my musical identity. It was not an easy journey because I have studied Classical music for twenty years and Jazz was not that familiar to me, but I was quickly fascinated by Jazz and my passion to learn it lead me to where I am now, so this award means a lot to me. It is such an honor to receive this scholarship.” said Seo.
Rin Seo grew up in Seoul, South Korea. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Classical Composition from the Sookmyung Women’s University. After being awarded a scholarship from the Berklee College of Music, she moved to the United States and received Professional Diploma from the school. Her original composition was performed by the Berklee Concert Jazz Orchestra in 2018. Seo is currently pursuing her Master of Music in Jazz Composition, studying with Grammy award-winner Jim McNeely.